Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Netflix partners Anurag Kashyap to produce its first India original series

Netflix partners Anurag Kashyap to produce its first India original series Posted on: 06/06/2016 11:14 AM TelevisionPost Team MUMBAI: Netflix is partnering with Anurag Kashyap’s company to produce its first India original series. Based on the critically-acclaimed best-selling novel ‘Sacred Games’ by Indian author Vikram Chandra, the Hindi-English series will be produced in partnership with Kashyap-helmed Phantom Films. Shot on location in India, the series will be available to Netflix members globally upon completion. Said Netflix vice president of international original series Erik Barmack, “We are delighted to partner with creative powerhouse, Phantom Films, to bring Vikram Chandra’s epic novel to life with the best Indian and global film talent available today. ‘Sacred Games’ reinforces our commitment to bring the authenticity of local stories to Netflix members across 190 countries worldwide.” Set in Mumbai, ‘Sacred Games’ delves into the city’s intricate web of organised crime, corruption, politics and espionage that lie beneath India’s economic renaissance. It is an epic masterwork of exceptional richness and power that interweaves the lives of the privileged, the famous, the wretched and the bloodthirsty. “Over the last few years, I’ve watched with great excitement and pleasure as Netflix has transformed narrative television with its ground-breaking, genre-bending shows,” commented Chandra. “I’m confident that all the colour and vitality and music of the fictional world I’ve lived with for so long will come fully alive on the large-scale canvas provided by Netflix. I’m thrilled to be working with Netflix and Phantom Films.” “We are very happy to start this journey with Netflix by producing Vikram’s outstanding story, set in Mumbai,” said Madhu Mantena of Phantom Films. “And we are extremely confident that together we will create some exciting and groundbreaking television content from hereon.” Phantom Films is a film production and distribution company set up by Kashyap, director Vikramaditya Motwane, producer Madhu Mantena and the former head of UTV Spotboy Vikas Bahl. Last year, Phantom Films formed a separate 50:50 joint venture company with Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance Entertainment to produce movies. Earlier, Netflix had acquired an Indian film ‘Brahman Naman’, which is to premiere globally in June. ‘Brahman Naman’ is a 2016 Indian comedy film directed by Qaushiq Mukherjee. Netflix launched its service in India on 6 January, along with 129 other countries. In India, the subscription plans are available at Rs 500–800 per month. For Rs 500, a user can get access to one SD screen; for Rs 650 per month, the content can be accessed in HD on two screens at a time. The Rs 800 per month plan will give a viewer access to 4K content on up to four screens simultaneously. In India, Netflix competes with local OTT players like Hotstar, Ditto TV, Sony Liv and Eros Now. Hooq, a joint venture between Warner Bros., Sony Pictures and Singapore telecom giant Singtel, has also launched in India and is offering its service at Rs 199 per month.